ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Blues captain David Backes returned to the lineup for Game 5 Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Backes, the Blues' top-line centre who missed the previous two outings after being on the receiving end of a crushing – and suspension-garnering – hit from Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook, hit the ice for the pre-game warmup to a huge cheer at the Scottrade Center.

Backes wasn't part of the morning skate, but there was speculation that he could play.

Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock alluded to him skating on his own while the team prepared for Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series Wednesday in the Windy City.

Hitchcock told the media Friday: “Like I said in Chicago, there's lots of rinks here in St. Louis, too. You never know. (He) might just jump on the ice and be there. If he's skating in the warmup, then you can all press send on your tweets and away you go.”

Backes was on the top line with Jaden Schwartz and T.J. Oshie.

Seabrook served the third and final game of his suspension Friday and is eligible to play in Sunday's Game 6.